Thousands More Employees Dismissed in Turkey Following Last Year's Coup Attempt

As reports indicate the imminent end of the state of emergency in Turkey, on Sunday, July 8, news emerged of the dismissal of thousands of other government employees in the wake of last year's coup attempt. According to a government decree reported by the official Turkish newspaper, nearly 20,000 civil servants and state employees will be dismissed. The number of new dismissals has been announced as 'more than 18,500,' including police officers, soldiers, university professors, and civil servants. The official Turkish newspaper specifies the exact number of dismissed individuals as 18,632, with the reason for their dismissal being 'suspected connections to terrorist organizations' and groups that 'act against national security.' Among those dismissed are nearly 9,000 police officers and over 3,000 military personnel. Additionally, close to 2,000 members of the Turkish Air Force are being dismissed. Among the newly dismissed individuals are nearly 200 'academic individuals.' Since the failed coup in the summer of 2016, which left nearly 250 dead, thousands have been arrested and imprisoned in Turkey, many others have lost their jobs, and hundreds are still awaiting their trials. Reuters reported earlier this month that the number of dismissals from both the public and private sectors in Turkey is around 160,000, with a similar number of arrests. Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric currently residing in the United States and previously a friend and collaborator of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is accused of leading the failed coup. However, Gülen has stated that he has no connection to the event and instead holds Erdoğan responsible for the coup. The recent decree for the dismissal of thousands comes as reports suggest the end of the state of emergency in the country. Immediately following the failed coup, a state of emergency was declared, which has been extended seven times. While the current state of emergency is officially set to end on July 19, less than two weeks from now, Turkish media reports indicate that this status will be announced to end on the upcoming Monday. According to AFP, based on the decree from Sunday, 12 associations and organizations, three newspapers, and one television channel will also be closed. While Erdoğan's government claims that such actions are necessary to protect national security, his critics insist that Erdoğan uses the coup as a pretext to suppress his opponents.